The Pumpkin Farm

A couple of weeks ago we went to a farm/ pumpkin patch.  Karsten brought his new camera so the images are amazing.  Axel is learning about farm animals at school so the timing was perfect.

Axel likes to say: "cows make milk and butter and cheese" 

Axel wouldn't pet the sheep but I did - it wasn't so soft as much as it was "matted"

This was a "fancy" farm with tons of kids games, balls, playgrounds and activities. 

Here he takes the "long shot" . . . . two inches from the basket:

 the cowboy practices his lasso technique 

he jumps off the hay blocks net to the hay maze:

 he feeds the pig grass - otherwise it would starve!

And finally, Axel picks out his own pumpkin to take home - "Mommy, I picked the small one, not too big"

Far got a new camera

Fashion Saturdays

#1 Babysitter

Since Karsten has been out of town recently, Axel has gotten to spend a lot of time with his number one babysitter while I'm out at practice.  She took him to the beach last weekend.  You're the BEST, Callie!

Family in Mexico

Virginia's birthday party was an AMAZING event: my cousin Ray went all out with the production of it!

The food was delicious, plus my mom got to sit next to the guest of honor.

Axel played football until the music started - then it was time to dance!

Ray and Axel dancing in the grass

The next morning we stole Ray & Virginia for a rare family photo: it was SO nice to see them again! 

Climbing the Aztec Ruins

While we were in the small Mexican town of Malinalco we visited the ruins of Cerro de los Idolos (Hill of the Idols) - this is an ancient Aztec pyramid associated with sorcery, legends, rituals, and even human sacrifice!

After a brief and tearful battle about whether I should carry Axel on my shoulders up the entire 426 stairs (I won), we made it to the top of the hill with the ruins. 

At the Market in Mexico

Last weekend Axel and I went to central Mexico for my aunt Virginia's 70th birthday party.  It was a BIG party, almost like a wedding, so the day before the party we basically followed Virginia around the small town gathering supplies and preparing for the big event.  

Here Axel stands on the chair (jumping on and off) while my mom and my aunt shop at the market 

Mom and Virginia debated which cloth to use for the centerpieces

 Next stop was the flower market:

Examining every bouquet, they took a long time to decide

Axel showed off what he has been learning at school, pointing out all the different colors to Grandma

Tere became Axel's buddy instantly, swinging him around and calling him her new boyfriend 

(Axel was a big hit with ALL the Grandmas. . . such a little charmer!)